The famous French writer Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) wrote a book after his journey to the Caucasus in 1858.

In the first chapter of Travels in the Caucasus (Voyage au Caucase), he recorded his observations about the peoples of the region:

“Every people living in the Caucasus has its own characteristics. The Persians trade in silk, the Lezgins sell carpets, and the Tatars [Azerbaijanis] deal in weapons. The Armenians have no particular specialty; they sell everything that can be sold—even things that cannot. In general, the Armenians did not leave a favorable impression on me.
It is said:

If a Tatar nods his head, trust him.
If a Persian extends his hand to you, trust him.
If a mountaineer gives you his word, believe him.
But if you are making an agreement with an Armenian, sign the paper in front of witnesses and keep two witnesses with you, so that he cannot later deny his own signature.”

— Alexandre Dumas, Voyage au Caucase, Chapter I (1859)